Sweetheart Banquet, February 14th
The Care Committee will be sponsoring the Sweetheart Banquet once again. It will be held on Saturday, February 14th (Valentine’s Day), at 6:30 PM. There will be a catered dinner, drawings for special prize baskets, and entertainment. Tickets are $8.00 a person or $15.00 for a couple, and can be obtained from any Care Committee member. All proceeds from the banquet will go to benefit missions of our church. So romance your sweetie at the Sweetheart Banquet this Valentine’s Day.
“Imagine No Malaria” Campaign
The Florida Conference’s “Imagine No Malaria” campaign is now in full swing. Our church has a goal of raising $1000 for this important initiative in 2015. To make your donation just mark “INM” on your offering envelope. If every family in our congregation would donate just $10, we could easily reach our goal.
Church and District Salty Service Opportunities
RUMC is still looking for a few good men (and women) to help with leadership tasks and positions. If you are looking for an opportunity to use the gifts God has given you, know that RUMC has a place for you to serve. We are looking for volunteers to serve as a Communications Resource Coordinator, an Imagine No Malaria Coordinator, an On-Line Giving Coordinator, and an Outreach Coordinator. If you are interested in any of these challenges, please contact Pastor Merritt.
The Nominations and Leadership Development Team for the South Central District in Plant City has also identified several volunteer opportunities. They need “ordinary people to do extraordinary work in leadership for the advancement of Christ’s mission”. They know that when God wants something done, he will tap someone on the shoulder and tell them “I’ve got a job for you”. SCD needs include a Disaster Team Co-Coordinator, members for a Board of Location and Building, Finance Committee members, Lay Members to the Annual Conference and a Website Manager. If you have felt God’s tap, contact Pastor Merritt or the staff at the South Central District office for more information.
Annual District Training Announced for 2015
The annual South Central District training has been revamped for the new year. Now called “ConneXions Labs + Networks”, training will be targeted more towards the evangelical needs of the church. The first series of ConneXion Labs will provide program planning for children, youth and adults. Each lab is designed to provide “hands on” experience to participants, so that they can make it happen in their local churches.
Are you involved or have a passion to work with children, youth or adults? Do you work with or volunteer with Children's ministry, Youth ministry, Small Groups and/or Adult Sunday School? Then this first ConneXions Labs training is for you.
The lab experience will also assist in the building of networks of like-minded leaders for future contact and sharing. Events will be scheduled at Seminole Heights UMC of Tampa (1/31), First UMC of Lakeland (2/7) and Trinity UMC in Plant City (2/21). You can register for the ConneXions Lab of your choice at this link.
Let’s Explore New Opportunities for Growth
Pastor Merritt would like to begin a Confirmation Class in February for our young people in grades 5 through 8. If you know of a young person in that age group who has not yet participated in Confirmation Classes, contact Pastor Merritt or the church office.
Also, if you are interested in joining our church family or in being Baptized, you should contact the church office to set up a meeting with Pastor Merritt.
The Pastor is also interested in starting a new covenant group for adults. If you would like to participate in an exciting, new and fresh way to study God’s word in 2015, contact the pastor as soon as possible.
Send a Card
The Care Committee is providing cards for our shut-ins, the incarcerated, and the homebound in our congregation. You can find cards to sign and/or address labels so that you can quickly send a personalized message to one of these persons. These cards and address labels can help us keep in touch with those who are unable to be with us.
Join the Pastor at the Real Ideas Conference
Pastor Merritt has registered for this year’s Real Idea’s Conference at Van Dyke UMC, 17030 Lakeshore Road, Lutz, Florida. This year’s conference will be held on Thursday, March 5th and Friday, March 6th. You can take advantage of an “Early Bird” special by registering for the conference before February 6th. For more information or to register, go to www.realideasconference.com.
Bible Message of the Week
Focus on the Holy and Pure
Be glad in the Lord always! Again I say, be glad! Let your gentleness show in your treatment of all people. The Lord is near. Don’t be anxious about anything; rather, bring up all of your requests to God in your prayers and petitions, along with giving thanks. Then the peace of God that exceeds all understanding will keep your hearts and minds safe in Christ Jesus.
From now on, brothers and sisters, if anything is excellent and if anything is admirable, focus your thoughts on these things: all that is true, all that is holy, all that is just, all that is pure, all that is lovely, and all that is worthy of praise. Practice these things: whatever you learned, received, heard, or saw in us. The God of peace will be with you.
Philippians 4:4-9
Calendar of Events
Monday, February 2
United Methodist Women. Library,
7:00 PM
United Methodist Men. Crichton Hall,
7:00 PM
Saturday, February 14
Sweetheart Banquet. Crichton Hall,
6:30 PM
Thursday, March 5—Friday, March 6
Real Ideas Conference. Van Dyke UMC, 17030 Lakeshore Road, Lutz, Florida. To pre-register or for more information, go to www.realideasconference.com.
Friday, March 6-Sunday, March 8
Springtime by the Lake. Life Enrichment Center, Fruitland Park, Florida.
8002 U. S. Highway 301 South, Riverview, FL 33578 813-677-5995
Service Times:
9:00 AM -- Faith Groups for All Ages
(Sunday School)
10:00 AM-- Worship Service
Rev. Merritt Waters, Pastor
Here at Riverview First United Methodist Church, it is our mission to win people to Christ, to train believers to become disciples, and to send disciples to impact our community and the world for Jesus Christ.
Download the February, 2015 BELL Newsletter from this link.
RUMC Launches Online Giving
Riverview First United Methodist Church is excited to announce that you can now manage your giving online! Giving online is easy and allows you to set up automatic recurring contributions and view your complete online giving history from anywhere you have access to the Internet. Or you can enter one-time contributions from the internet or by smart phone.
To get started, simply follow these easy steps:
- Click on the Online Giving button below. This will take you to our church’s online giving webpage.
- Click on our Create Profile button on that webpage.
- Follow the onscreen instructions to create an online profile and to schedule your recurring or one-time contributions.
We also offer a mobile app version of our online giving page. Now, you can give anytime using your smart phone or tablet. Simply scan the image found in your Sunday bulletin or monthly Bell Newsletter using your device’s QR code reader.
